Dear God, Part 8: The Garden Prayer

Grant Fishbook, Lead Teaching Pastor

Matthew 26:36-46
³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
          ³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
          ⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
          ⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
          ⁴³ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
          ⁴⁵ Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Walking Through the Moments

³⁶ Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane…

          …and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

is always a prompt to .

³⁹ Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed…

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.

          Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

“” is always the best response.

⁴⁰ Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. ⁴¹ “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

⁴² He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
          ⁴³ When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

God’s to Jesus was a to us.

⁴⁵ Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

Prayer can transform resignation into .

Small Group Questions

1. Are you tired of the heat? Why or why not?
2. What was the most painful moment of your life? It could be physical, emotional, or spiritual pain. What made that moment hurt so bad? Do you remember praying in the pain, and if so, what did you say to God?
3. What does the fact that Jesus went back three times in prayer mean to you?
4. How do you handle it when you are struggling to understand God’s will? What can you learn from the example of Jesus?
5. In what area of your life do you need to say Your will be done right now?
6. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?